Questions about careers in health care
What are "health professions" or "allied health" careers and why might they interest me?
Allied health is an umbrella term covering over 200 health professions which do not include physicians, nurses, veterinarians, podiatrists, pharmacists or dentists. The term "health sciences" or "health professionals" are also frequently used to describe the approximately two million working professionals in these fields across the United States. What other health professions are out there, you may ask? The University of Kansas School of Health Professions (SHP) educates students to become professionals in a wide variety of fields in programs ranging from certificate to bachelor’s to master’s to doctorate degrees.
If you like math and science, and excel in these two areas, you are halfway there. Another part of the equation for success in these fields is ‘how’ you are. Are you patient? Do you have self-discipline? Are you interested in people and their well-being? Are you responsible?
If your answers to these questions are mostly ‘yes’, then you might want to investigate some of these professions more closely. First, read about the profession as well as the academic preparation for it. Visit and/or volunteer in the field which interests you. There’s more to it than being able to study and making good grades. Find out what the job is like. How much patient contact is involved, if any. What kinds of patients will you see? Do patients come to these professionals, or do the professionals go to the patients? Is there a dress code? What are the hours of the job? Is there a lot of paperwork? Where would you work? In a hospital? In a clinic? In a laboratory? In a school? How much flexibility would you have to work in another state or country? And, hey, it doesn’t hurt to check out your potential salary!
Don’t forget to look at ‘who’ you are, as well. Would it ‘charge your batteries’ to sit behind a microscope many hours a day with minimal people-contact? Would you be better-suited to lots of interaction across your workday? Are you more business and computer-oriented? It’s all well and good to excel in a field of study, health profession or otherwise; however, if it’s not a ‘fit’ for YOU, then chances are you might not really enjoy your career, which will be a huge chunk of your life. Makes sense that after all that education, you ultimately love what you’re doing! See all the programs in the KU School of Health Professions. [top ]
What will I learn how to do at the KU School of Health Professions?
Each program focuses on a specific aspect
of health care, and each has a different level of patient involvement.
Occupational therapists, for example, work closely with patients,
while cytotechnologists have limited patient contact. Cytotechnologists
work with pathologists to pursue early detection and diagnosis of
diseases, particularly cancer. The cytotechnologist examines specimens
such as the routine Pap smear taken in a gynecologist's office or
cellular slides made from tissue in other parts of the body.
Health information managers work in hospitals and other health care
facilities. They gather and process a large amount of health data,
not only on their facility's patients but also on regulations and
policies that affect the health care industry. They interpret and
organize this data and pass along information to other members of
the health care team.
Clinical Laboratory Scientists (also known as medical technologists) use sophisticated tools to perform the laboratory
tests needed to diagnose and treat diseases. They draw and examine
blood samples, analyze urine and stool specimens, and detect and
identify the bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can infect the
body.
Occupational therapists engage patients in purposeful activity such
as work, self-care, and play to increase their independence. They
work with people who have been injured or are physically, mentally,
or socially disabled. They often can improve the quality of peoples'
lives by teaching them to use their bodies in new ways or how to
use adaptive tools to complete the tasks of daily living.
Respiratory care professionals work with people of all ages who
suffer from disorders that affect their breathing.
Using sophisticated equipment, these professionals diagnose and
treat lung problems from such illnesses as asthma, pneumonia, and
emphysema, or from injuries and shock. [
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Are there good job opportunities?
The job market is strong for graduates
in allied health programs, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Many students have
job commitments before they graduate. Because
of a shortage of health-care professionals in rural areas, salaries
frequently are higher in small towns.
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Questions about application and requirements
How do I get into one of these programs?
For an undergraduate program, you will complete your first 2-3 years of prerequisites at an accredited college or university. (We’d love for you to attend KU, of course! Truly, though, we don’t favor KU students over other Kansas institutions. Just make sure your school, in Kansas or out-of-state, is accredited!) These undergraduate courses will meet your liberal arts requirements in math, English, humanities and sciences. It is imperative that you communicate with the allied health program you wish to enter to make sure you know what their prerequistes are. Every department is different.
For most of the graduate programs, a bachelor’s degree is required. (Students applying to the Master of Occupational Therapy program enter our School as college seniors.) Several of the graduate programs require the GRE (Graduate Record Exam). Again, every department has their own prerequisites, so it behooves you to plan ahead and communicate with the program to which you will be applying.
Two of the certificate programs require either certification as a diagnostic radiologist (usually offered at local community colleges or hospitals) or a bachelor’s degree in a science or health related field. The Diagnostic Ultrasound and Vascular Technology program will only accept the certification in diagnostic radiology (also known as radiologic technology, also known as x-ray technology). (Note that neither KU nor KUMC offer the certification program for diagnostic radiology.) [top ]
How competitive is it?
Many more people apply than are accepted. A strong GPA (grade point average) is very important, overall, and in the prerequisite courses for your program. Volunteer (or paid) experience in health-related areas will strengthen your application, especially if you’ve committed a significant amount of time doing this. Having spent time with an organization, your director or employer will come to know how punctual you are, how reliable and responsible, your leadership potential, your creativity, your initiative, your personality, etc. These directors/employers can be great references who can indicate all kinds of admirable qualities about you in their letters!) [
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What courses will I take as a freshman if I’m planning to apply to the School of Health Professions?
You can expect the ‘usual’ – 2 courses in English (comp and lit), algebra (or higher level math), biology lecture and lab, psychology, sociology, physiology, intro to child behavior, intro to ethics, communications. (It is imperative that you communicate with the allied health program to which you will be applying to make sure you know what their prerequistes are; by the end of your freshman year (and sometimes prior to that time) your prerequisites will become very specific.) Typically, you will carry about 15-16 hours a semester, with classes scattered throughout the day.
Your last one or two years at KUMC will be focused on your professional training. You will be in class from about 8A to 5P daily, often carrying a heavier load of hours in a very different environment from undergraduate school. Depending upon your major, your professional program may include practical experience in a lab, hospital, or clinical setting on or off campus. [top ]
When I apply to a program in the School of Health Professions, is there
a separate application for the School itself?
No. Applications submitted to one of our
academic programs are the same as applications to our school.
However, each department has its own set of application materials which include additional forms required at the time of application to the school. The application for undergraduate and certificate programs is different from that of the graduate-level programs. All students need to
contact the program directly to obtain instructions and the proper application packet for their program of interest. [
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Is there a difference between KU Lawrence campus applications
and those for Allied Health programs?
Yes. The applications are different and
not interchangeable. You must complete the application for the program
you are interested in here at the School of Health Professions and not
the Lawrence campus application.
Please note that applications available at the Lawrence campus website may appear nearly identical to those of the School of Health Professions. However, all applicants to the School of Health Professions must obtain their specific application packet directly from their program's office on the KU Medical Center campus or from that program's website. [
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Is health insurance required?
Yes.
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Will I have to pay out of state tuition if I live
close to the Medical Center but in Kansas City, Missouri?
Yes. Even though the state line that divides
Kansas and Missouri is only a matter of feet (literally) from the
KU Medical Center campus, students living in Missouri must pay out
of state tuition to attend the University of Kansas. [
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Cost and Financial Aid Questions
Can I get a scholarship?
Many of the departments have scholarships for students who have been in the professional program for a period of time and have excelled. Some of these awards are determined through a combination of financial need and academic excellence. For example, the Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences offers sizeable scholarships to students in their final year of CLS study, for those students who have graduated from a Kansas high school. [
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Will financial aid transfer if I already have it
at the Lawrence KU campus?
No. You must re-apply for financial aide
in the KU School of Health Professions. More information on financial
aide can be found on the
KUMC
Student Services website.
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About the School and Campus
Where is the KU School of Health Professions?
The KU School of Health Professions is on the campus of the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas –
See map. [
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Will I be able to live on campus at the KU Medical
Center in Kansas City?
No. There is no housing on the campus of
the Medical Center. However, many great options for housing exist
in very close proximity to campus. More information on options available
can be found at the
Counseling & Educational Support Services webpage. [
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The University of Kansas